News: Local businesses brace for $3-a-gallon gasoline

Where did I ever suggest 1,000 or any number for that matter? Wouldn't it be more absurd to suggest I stated 1,000 gallons?

It can be proven how much energy it takes if I had enough time to do all the research (poking around at work with engineers, internet research etc etc...) But what have you done to back up your claim they don't, other than make accusations I suggested some outrageous number and call me full of crap?

All I ever said was a greater amount of fuel. Fuel meaning energy.

You also keep going back to just producing the vehicle when my argument is over the entire life of the vehicle, and right now, as it stands, production, consumer ownership and disposal of a Hybrid requires more energy than a 2007 Tahoe. Whether it is a Prius or an Escape. Another factor is GM uses landfill gas at most of their plants. Toyota and Ford don't.

Sure, in 3 or 5 years this could change and the Hybrid will require less energy to produce. They might even reach a point it where it takes less energy to produce the whole vehicle then it does to make just the battery they use now.

But right now as it stands this is not the case. This is opposite of what Toyota, Ford, GM, Honda and DCX want you to believe right now.

I just wonder how long these outrageous prices are going to last. I do not claim to have any knowledge on hybrids or the political machine that drives oil prices, but I am intelligent enough to know that every time I fill up my tank I am getting ripped off.

While I would love to have the dough to buy a more economical vehicle, I am stuck with my 21 mpg model, and I will make sacrifices in other areas (i.e., no more "name brand shaving cream for awhile...ha) to make up the difference.

The sad thing is that everyone knows they are being cheated, yet no one in the political arena seems willing to do anything about it.

Today the Sec. of Energy said that the oil companies claims that an ethanol shortage were bogus and that there is more than enough ethanol to go around.

All you need to remember is one of the basic tentents of human system dynamics: Those who have the power are in charge of regulating the system, and will do there upmost to insure that the system will continue to keep the balance of power where it is. Hence, in the US, as the years tick by, the rich get richer while the poor get poorer, regardless of any ridiculous "democrat" or "republican" label. The middle class will always shoulder the greatest burden in this country.

Some things that might help you save a few bucks and keep some gas in your tank. Most of these are easy to do yourself and can be done by hand or with simple tools.

1. Check your air filter. You should be able to see significant amount of light coming through it when held up to a light source. in cars built before 2000 change it every 12K miles. Cars after should be changed every 24K miles. You should pay anywhere from $7-$25. I recommend FRAM. Go for the K&N if you can afford it and you plan on having your vehicle for a lot of time.

2. Fuel Filter. You should be able to feel a strong amount of air coming out the other side when you hold a source of air to the intake end. Note the direction of flow on the side of the filter. They generally cost $10-$25 depending on the vehicle.

3. Keep up on your oil changes. Every 3K - 5K depending on driving habits and conditions. Harder faster driving should be changed sooner than later.

4. Keep those tires Balanced, rotated and alligned. Always keep your pressure at a steady level in all 4. Ask your technician or check the owners manual for proper inflation. Do not go by the Max PSI on the tire wall as it varies from car to car.

5. Keep the gas cap tight.

6. If you have older vehicle, run a can of STP Fuel injector and carb cleaner through a full tank. This will clean deposits off the injectors allowing for a steady stream of fuel. Use again every 5-6K.

The following are a bit harder and require special attention and tools. Do not do them yourself unless you are absolutly certain you can take on the task.

A. Change your spark plugs and wires every 50K. Especially with older vehicles. Old, or improperly gapped spark plugs can build up deposits and not allow for proper combustion. Use a padded socket so as not to bust the ceramic.

B. Flush your transmission fluid. It should be Redish or Purple in color. Black is bad.

C. Check your oxygen sensors. These are responsible for proper intake of air and fuel and exhaust timing of the valves.

D. Flush your coolant.

E. Check all vacuum lines.

Try to keep from doing Jackrabbit starts.

Don't be afraid to use the A/C when cruising... You should try to use natural ventilation in stop and go traffic.

Keep a steady speed. If you have cruise control, use it on the turnpike. The computer can maintain a steady speed better and faster than any human.

Avoid any type of leak stopper in the coolant or oil. These can gum up parts and cause worse damage down the road. Most leaks can be stopped with cheap and simple fixes. Sometimes just a hose and a clamp for less than $20 dollars can fix the leak issue. As opposed to the $100s to have your engine cleaned.

Last, but most importantly....

Go into McDonalds... Not the drive-thru *** Edited 4/24/2006 2:50:15 AM UTC by Coastern3rd***

Coastern3rd said:
Where did I ever suggest 1,000 or any number for that matter? Wouldn't it be more absurd to suggest I stated 1,000 gallons?

It can be proven how much energy it takes if I had enough time to do all the research (poking around at work with engineers, internet research etc etc...) But what have you done to back up your claim they don't, other than make accusations I suggested some outrageous number and call me full of crap?

Because you are full of crap. I'm saying a thousand gallons because you're saying that the energy used to produce the car isn't made up by the energy saved in its operation. So because all energy is not created equal (literally), then if you want to make an apples-to-apples comparison, you have to be talking about gas. They hybrid will save you on the order of a thousand gallons over its lifetime.

But no, you're talking about actual energy, and that's silly. A chunk of Uranium used to generate electricity versus a gallon of gas which doesn't produce much of anything by comparison. Then consider the environmental impact between the two. Hybrids exist not so we can save on plentiful energy like nuclear power, but so we can use less of the black stuff that comes out of the ground in the Middle East.

Your case is still absurd.

But right now as it stands this is not the case. This is opposite of what Toyota, Ford, GM, Honda and DCX want you to believe right now.

Oh... there you go... it's a conspiracy! They're telling lies and scamming us all to sell vehicles that are more expensive and won't show the margins they'd like for years. Of course! Why didn't I think of that?

First of all, a governor asking for the president to do something is complete chicken**** way to cover their own posterior. The President should have NO impact on the price of anything, and really hasn't much of an influence compared to other factors of a free market.

I am always amused when Jeff and i turn out on the same side of an issue.

I wonder where Brazil gets all this ethenol from? Are they growing their own crops to get the fuel? If they are it should really frost the ass of any tree hugger, because it's farming that is the root cause of nearly all rainforest loss (despite what the wack jobs in the "evironmental" movement will lead you to believe). If not then they have to be dependant on someone for that fuel, just not the middle east.

Now let me get back to the free market. As was pointed out earlier, we have been spoiled with crazy low cost of gas. While Europe, Canada and the rest of the world have paid for the right to drive a personal car we here in the states have had it for next to nothing the past fifteen years. And why is that? I hear it's because of controls by the government. I would wager it was to keep the economy growing. Our economy has been built on cheap energy... and it will end shortly.

It's not like most of the country MUST use gas for its transportation needs. It's not like most cities' public transportation systems are a joke. It's not like Americans have longer commute times than ever (even in cities like Cleveland that are among the shortest in the country) which are a tribute to how far out the regions edge has gone the past twenty years. It's not like Americans aren't obcessed with their car and its shallow correlation to "freedom" (like someone living without a car is any less free). It's not like our country didn't just spend half a century building their urban fabric to suit the automobile, not the pedestrian. (Oh wait it is like that!)

We brought it on ourselves. And we will pay whatever "they" want us to pay because for the first time ever we have no real alternative in many major cities.

For me i drive no more than fifteen miles a week in my little Honda Civic. And i would take a bus if it wouldn't take over two hours to get from one east side suburb to another (South Euclid to Euclid). But since the commute is so short and the use of gas so little the prices still allow for my driving indulgence, but as soon as i get transferred back downtown it's the 9X for me (45 minutes instead of 25 but that's ok) :)

The answer to the "oil" problem is at the core of our society. The quick answer is live closer to where you work and buy automobiles that make sense and then the gas prices won't hurt so much.

Real answers include building mixed use urban cities that can support public transportation. It includes demanding that less money be thrown away on road construction and invested in better programs and other improvement projects. The amount of money spend on supporting the auto is inconceivable.

The prices will go up because everyone will continue to pay for it, and they know it.

Edit ** And to blame one man for the problem is absolutely, completely ludicrious. Some on the left are so blinded with rage they can't see anything clearly.
*** Edited 4/24/2006 3:57:06 AM UTC by gener***

It's impossible to cram everyone in major metropolis' into a close enough area where they all walk to ride a bike or walk. I'll use teaching as an example. For a graduate coming out of college in Ohio, it is next to impossible to find a teaching job. The odds are even longer you'll find one anywhere near your home. You just can't pick up and leave from where your living. That is impractical to tell everyone to live close to where they work. Thats just not possible. Your not gonna work at the Ford Plant down the street that's always hiring for 40 years, take your nice little pension, and spend the rest of your life in a quaint little town house. There's gotta be other answers than just stop using gas.

If I didn't have my hybrid this summer (and getting 42mpg in the process) I wouldn't go anywhere near CP, as much as it pains me to say it. As is, my wife and I are going to start inviting other couples to drive with us so we can bilk them for gas money.

I'm not telling people to move down the street from where they work, but you would be better off if you could. I realize that isn't always practical.

I'm saying that a commute from Akron to Cleveland is absurd. If you choose to live more than ten miles from where you work then you're getting what you asked for. Of course in metro areas that have extremely tight housing markets it's a different story, however cities like San Francisco have excellent public transportation as alternatives. That is not the case for cities like Cleveland and most of the country. Especially in Cleveland one could easily find an afforadble house in a good school district and be less than fifteen minutes from downtown or any other job node in the region.

If you choose to live more than ten miles from where you work then you're getting what you asked for.

I don't know about Ohio, but in Michigan (especially at times like these) its virtually impossible to abide by this. I realize what you are getting at, but it seems more based in a utopian fantasy than in real life. Based in reality, that statement is absurd.

THat is Part of out problem.... The huge amount of urban sprawl we have seen in the last 10 years . The days of the central downtown business and industrial center with close residential suburbs are no more. With cheap gas prices it made perfect sense to live in nice affordable housing in developments 30 miles away from the city center. Have a few million people sprawling out in just one city and you have a gradual big increase in gas demand.

We did a group study on “edge cities” in college and these new developments are also important. Basically they are cities around the traditional city center which have developed as a major business center comprised of mostly office space with retail supporting it. There main benefit is cheap office space compared to the traditional downtown areas and they are easier to commute to for people who have moved out into the distance suburbs. In Cleveland, a city like Independence is a prefect example with progressive and others moving out there.

The only problem with this is we now have major business scattered all over a large radius. If your house is on one edge and your business is on the other that’s an issue. It seems like Detroit especially is feeling the ill effects of this right now with so many people out of work now trying to find new jobs, most of which aren’t near their current residence.

I think in the coming years we will see more businesses locate outward, and the hope is people will find job security with these places and locate around where they work. Also redeveloping immediate suburbs around the city center can revitalize the business and residential appeal of the city center and stop urban sprawl. Cleveland seems to be off to a decent start with the tax free housing incentive, as there are some nice new houses and condo’s in Ohio City (those new condos on the west end of the vets bridge look sick :))

Still the cause of high prices right now is market speculation, but this just maybe this will knock some sense into us for the long run.

Perhaps Detroit is worse off than even i thought.

Cuyahoga County is only thirty miles across. So IF you work downtown and IF you need to be in a good school district it is not difficult at all to be within ten miles of your job. So you're claiming that there is no reasonably safe option within a ten mile radius of downtown Detriot. Sounds fishy to me.

And Joe E brings up a fantastic point with edge cities. Most people in a metro area don't even work in the nasty downtown area, therefore it should be easier for these people to live close to where they work.

There's more to overall finances than how much it costs to fill your tank for the commute. We live in Lorain County and it's 20 miles to my job in downtown Cleveland. But here, the tax base is lower and I can buy more house with the same amount of money. Not to mention all the other quality of life issues. I'm not going to move to Lakewood so that I can use less gas.

To say everyone should live within 10 miles of their job is not only unrealistic, it's also not necessary.

If you choose to live more than ten miles from where you work then you're getting what you asked for.

How wonderful life would be if it really was a "choice".

If gas is that big of a burden on your finances that you need to move to be finacially sound then you have bigger problems than the price of gasoline.

For some odd reason.. all day, I could not post...

I've said what I have to say about the Hybrids use of energy and fuel to be produced, driven and disposed of. Clearly you're stuck on saving yourself and your money, or discussion of energy to produce something would be important and not silly.

Oh... there you go... it's a conspiracy! They're telling lies and scamming us all to sell vehicles that are more expensive and won't show the margins they'd like for years. Of course! Why didn't I think of that?

If you want to be dramtic and call it a conspiracy, you go ahead.

I call it marketing, which is what every auto company is doing to get you to buy there product.

See the Ford being crushed by two bulldozers? That's not really happening.

See the SSR doing an E-brake 180 and backing onto a car hauler at 55 in reverse? Special gears and set ratios in the transmission that you can't buy.

See the Breathe commercial for the Toyota Hybrid? They claim driving one will make you breathe better.

Do you buy into it? Can you breathe better by buying a Hybrid?

"Toyota is two-faced," said Yurika Ayukawa, director of the climate change program at the World Wildlife Fund of Japan. "It wants to be seen as an eco-company, as environmentally committed, but it's really just business as usual."

Ayukawa noted that Toyota has joined with U.S. automakers in filing lawsuits in state and federal court seeking to block California's landmark 2004 rule ordering all automakers to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the cars they sell.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/04/24/MNG3JIE6DK1.DTL&type=cars

By the way... Toyota makes some great cars... I'm not biased to imports. The new Camry is pretty sweet. *** Edited 4/25/2006 1:44:04 AM UTC by Coastern3rd***

I’m not suggesting anyone who drives and SUV and commutes from a nice house with a big yard in a distant suburb is the Anti-Christ. :) Above all People have the right to choose what they want to drive and where to live, and the affordable distant suburbs are very attractive and popular choice. That choice many have made is just a part of the reason why demand and price has increased.

Gas is still relatively cheap, especially if it’s inflation adjusted and compared to the rest of the world . Even since gas prices doubled since a few years ago, that’s still only a $3 increase per commute for a person who commutes a gallon (~25 miles) away. If you compare that against the lifestyle benefits, and the lower cost of living further away it’s really not that bad. We just have to realize than our demand cannot continue to increase along with the rest of the world or we will see $5-$6 gallon. That’s why I think we are seeing business move out to the people, tax incentives to move in, and more fuel efficient vehicles so we can at least stabilize our demand. *** Edited 4/25/2006 2:35:08 AM UTC by Joe E***

I live further away because I'm trying to avoid the affluent (but closer to work) suburbs ... where you pay more for less. :)

Say MrScott, i'd love to see you FTF> i'll be bellping at Hotel Breaks intime for opening weekend. Just look for a tag that says "jason from Bow, NH"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060425/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_8

WASHINGTON -
President Bush has decided to temporarily halt deposits to the nation's strategic petroleum reserve to make more oil available for consumer needs and relieve pressure on pump prices, a senior administration official said Tuesday

Blah, blah, blah... Just when you think he's finally done spouting pointless rhetoric in order to make people believe he's actually doing something...

Is it 2008 yet?